Signing up is easy, particularly if you already have a Google account. Once a member, you have a lot of things to enjoy on this new social media site.

So what are the core features of Google+ and what do they achieve?

Profile

Your Google+ Profile is where you can tell everyone about YOU.

It’s important to populate this section with information about you, your websites, any links to other social media profiles you are on, plus more.

What you share here is the best way to represent you and your business across the entire suite of Google products, not just Google+

Circles

With Google+ you can create personalized groups of people called Circles. You can learn more about Circles in our previous blog post here

Each circle can be categorized: friends, business associates, family or colleagues or whatever you choose.

In short, what you share with a certain circle will not be known by the people in your other circles unlike on Facebook and Twitter.

As such, you can enjoy a private conversation just between those in a particular circle.

In addition, only you know who you’ve put into specific circles. Those in your circles do not see the circle you’ve added them to.

Streamlined Sharing

You may have noticed that when you’re logged into any Google account, now there is always the Google+ icon on the top of the navigation bar or, in the case of Gmail, in the drop down menu when you click your profile name.

This is a user-friendly feature that allows you to keep track of your Google+ newsfeed or notifications without having to log into the main site.

Through this integration, you can easily view the conversations going on, add your comments or simply just get updated on the latest news.

Hangouts

Hangouts is a feature that lets users engage in a video chat.

Rather than being limited to one-on-one, Google+ enables a multi-person conversation through the use of video.

Regardless of their location, users can drop by and chat with any member of his or her circles who is hanging out.

This Google+ video calling service can be used whether you’re on Gmail, Orkut or iGoogle.

How have you found using Google+? What do you love about it and what should Google change?

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By Wendy Moore
Copyright 2012 Savvy Web Women Pty Ltd

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Wendy Moore is the founder of www.savvywebwomen.com and creator of the Savvy List Building Blog – the information packed resource that shows business owners and entrepreneurs how to get in front of an audience that wants to buy what they are selling. To receive your FREE Special Report and how-to articles to expand your online List Building toolkit, visit www.wendymoore.net.

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Who is Wendy Chamberlain?

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Wendy Chamberlain is a sought-after speaker, Trainer, International Best Selling author and Online Engagement Strategist who is passionate about showing business owners and Entrepreneurs how to navigate the online world and social media.

Inspired by the desire to educate and empower others and driven by a need to follow her passion, Wendy threw in her high-powered, six figure job with its $45 million budgets and gut wrenching stress to follow her passion.

Wendy can show you effective online engagement strategies to connect with and influence your target audience.

Recognition

Social Property Selling has been named as a finalist in the REIV Awards for Excellence for a copywriting campaign for Williams Real Estate

Social Property Selling has been named in the Smart 100 (we made Top 50) in the 2013 Anthill Smart 100 Awards

Social Property Selling has been named in the Top 100 Companies in the 2013 Anthill Cool Company Awards

Savvy Web Women has been named as a Finalist for Online Small Business in the 2012 Australian Small Business Champion Awards

Savvy Web Women has received an Honourable Mention in the 2010 Anthill Cool Company Awards

Savvy Web Women has been named as the Victorian State Winner for Online Small Business in the 2009 Australian Small Business Champion Awards

Wendy Moore has been named a 2009 Finalist in the 6th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in two categories - Best Asian Entrepreneur and Best New Service of the year.

Wendy Chamberlain (Moore) is listed in 2009-14 Who's Who of Australian Women